Cuba

Photos

Photo courtesy of The Book LLC

Photo courtesy of Barre Dukes/Phelps Sport

Photo courtesy of Shawn McMillen Photography

Cuba (Namelus R x Ups-A-Daisy/Mermus R) is ranked among the top hunter derby horses in the country. Initially starting his career targeted towards the equitation classes, he quickly made the switch to the hunter divisions largely due to his beautiful style, massive scope and signature jumping form. The switch proved to be a successful one as Mckayla Langmeier piloted Cuba to the Grand Junior Hunter Championship at the prestigious Devon Horse Show and County Fair in 2015. In 2017, John and Stephanie Ingram purchased Cuba to compete in the Amateur Owner Hunters 36 & Over with John Ingram and in International Hunter Derbies with Victoria Colvin.

Cuba made his derby debut at the Deeridge International Hunter Derby where he won the $5,000 International Hunter Derby Welcome Stake and continued his success at the Devon Horse Show and County Fair where he finished 2nd overall in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Cuba also proven himself as a top contender in the Amateur Owner Hunter 36 & Over Division with John Ingram, earning numerous championships at the nation's top horse shows including the Hampton Classic and Winter Equestrian Festival.

Cuba had his breakout performance at the $268,550 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship in August 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky, where Victoria Colvin piloted him to the Overall Championship.

In an interview about her finish rider Victoria Colvin remarked that, "I started really showing him in the beginning of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Florida. I don't think we really had [the 2017 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship] on our mind at that point, but the more that he did, the more we could see that he had scope to be able to do this. Then we started jumping bigger and trying to test him out to see if he would be able to do it. Then we did the derby at the end of WEF and he was amazing. We couldn't have asked him to be any better. It seems he has endless scope – way more than we thought. He's just been spectacular".

Cuba's performance at the finals was indeed spectacular as they earned the victory by a significant margin of 9.75 points. In addition to the championship, Cuba also finished the competition year as the USHJA International Derby horse with the most money won at $55,853. After only beginning his Derby campaign in 2017, he quickly rose to the top as a real contender in International Hunter Derby competitions.

On earning the title of the 2017 US Equestrian National Horse of the Year, owner John Ingram said, "Stephanie and I are so humbled that he has won this honor. We are grateful to have Cuba in our lives and we are always aiming for what is in his best interest. People who love this horse can rest assured that he will be well taken care of for the rest of his life. We look forward to a long relationship with this special horse".

The EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation would like to expressits appreciation to Blackburn Architects, P.C. for use of its rendition of the stables atSagamore Farm.